LOCAL & GENERAL

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 72

LOCAL & GENERAL

The case of Captain Knyvett, of Auckland, was referred to by a Daily Times reporter in conversation with Sir Joseph Ward on the 11th inst., and Sir Joseph was asked whether he, ns Minister of Defence, was prepared to niako any statement concerning' it. The Prime Minister returned a prompt and emphatic negative. Ho said that he was not ready to make any statement about Captain Knyvett, or lake any action in the matter., at the present time. Tie understood, however, that Captain Knyvett was to write to the Defence Department in connection with his case, and the matter ■would then be officially considered by him.

Beginning at a point about 10 miles up the Wanganui River, nearly all the land is private property to the water’s edge, and hitherto excursionists have been allowed to land only on sufferance. Owing to the disturbance to stock, and for other reasons, there has been of late a growing disinclination among property-owners to allow picnic parties to land, and, as river excursions are a very pcpular' form of outing on hol.days, the public will likely be faced at no very distant date with notices that trespassers will be prosecuted. The public spirit of a Native chief, Wiremu Hipango, however, will enable one portion of the river frontage to be always available for excursion purposes (says the Wanganui correspondent of the Dominion). Hipango has placed a fairly large area of land near Raorikla (about 15 miles from the town) at the disposal of the public for holidaymaking, imposing no conditions beyond requesting that people should be careful with their fires, and refrain from destroying the native bush, of which there is a considerable amount. The place is nn historic one. being the site of an old fighting pa, and near the famous ‘‘Kemp’s Pole,” erected by the late chief, .Major Kemp, some 5b years ago, to mark the limit beyond which no white men could venture.

The Hon. Dr Findlay has (says a Christchurch telegram) received information that Sir Robert Stout will leave England for New Zealand about the middle of February. The operation he underwent, which was serious, has had highly satisfactory results, and it is expected that Sir Robert will bo restored to health soon after his leave expires.

A Whangarei message states that Joseph Jones (4C), married, belonging to the Coromandel district, who was on a visit to Whangarei, disappeared on the 10th inst. He was suffering from paralysis, and had Jett a note stating that he was very sorry, but that his brain was on fire. Anxiety was felt, and a search party instituted, without result. On the morning of the 11th Jones was found in a paddock near the town, with h/s throat cut by a razor. He was taken to the hospital, and is expected to recover.

A meeting of the Education Board, hold on the 11th, was presided over by the Hon. T. Fergus. The question of school books was considered, and it was decided to make certain recommendations to the Minister, and, as some books recommended for use had not been recommended by him, it was resolved to forward copies and ask for his approval of the same. Mathers in connection with the Technical School were discussed, and it was decided to advertise for two instructors in cookery and one in woodwork.

An unusual incident was witnessed at Caroline Bay (Timaru) on the Bth inst. in the shape of a bather returning' from a swim seawards, surrounded by several porpoises. The gay sportsmen of the briny deep (says the Post) showed not the slightest fear of the swimmer, but dived under him, over him, ahead of him, and behind him in a exasperatingly familiar manner. Needless to say, the bather did not tarry. Nevertheless, ho had his revenge. Curiosity to know more of his queer white brother drew one porpoise close in to the shore. There was the usual backwash, and ere the unhappy denizen of the deep had time to turn and flee, the water had left him a helpless stranger on a foreign shore. The hastening of his end was a welcome task to one of the bather’s friends.

Sir Joseph Ward, who returned to Wellington on the 11th, accompanied by Lady Ward and the members of his family, after having spent a brief holiday at the Bluff, expects to be back in Otago again at tho end of the present month.

The Hon. R. MTvonzie, Minister of Mines .and Works,, visited Seddonville on the 12bh, receiving several deputations of local millers on the way. In the evening he opened the new School of Mines in Westport, before a large gathering, and was (save the Press Association) subsequently entertained at a social gathering promoted by the council of the School of Minas.

During his first year of office as Minister of Railways the Hon. J. A. Millar has, he states, effected economics in working expenses totalling £70,000. With a view to still further cutting down expenditure, he Intends to convene a conference of district traffic managers as soon as the financial year closes, to consider a proposal to reduce the goods services to wayside stations.

A movement is on foot to establish chairs of military science at the four university colleges in New Zealand. .Matters have so far advanced that it is hoped by those who are interesting themselves in the project that the Victoria College Professorial Board (among others) will have formulated a .uxoji

yosal on the subject, to submit to the Senate at its coming 'nesting.' It is irgod in favour of the proposal that the dependence for success upon its officers of an armed force is .so complete as to place it as a question, of principle beyond dispute, whilst the change of policy involved by recent .legislation makes the provision of adequate means of home training for officers and the establishment of a sound school of military thought doubly desirable. The statement of the city tramways revenue from November 11 to December 3 shows a profit of £790. Mr H. Birley, who has bean appointed by the Tourist Department to take control of the Wakatipu-Te Anau track, [s at present in Queenstown. He informs the Wakatipa Mail that he has made ad arrangements for this overland tour. The proposal to irrigate certain rands on the Molyneux for the purpose of subdivision for fruit-growing purposes. ■ came before the Land Board on the 12th, when W. A. Bedkin wrote, on behalf of a syndicate, asking if an area lying' between Clyde and Alexandra, on the Dunstan Flat, could be obtained by the syndicate for the purpose of having the area irrigated and then subdivided into fruit-growing' areas. A letter was received from C. R. Attficld with reference to the application. The letter was received, applicant to be informed that the board had no power to deal with the proposal, but it would be placed before the Government, with a recommendation that provision be made for dealing with this and similar areas. Mr H. M. Sheet (Commissioner for Lands for Southland) visited Munro’s Bush, on the Mimihau River, on the 11th (says the Southland Times', for the purpose of. reporting upon the question of its purchase as a scenic resort. He was accompanied by Messrs G. J. Anderson, M.P., and J. Millar (chairman of the Wyndham Town Board). The question of acquiring this locality as a scenic resort was due the members for the district (Messrs Anderson and Malcolm), who during a discussion on the Estimates for scenery preservation drew attention to the merits of Munro 3 Bush, and in consequence the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie has given instructions to the commissioner to report on Its suitableness. The Scenery Preservation Commissioners, who visited the place, made no secret of the favourable report which they would make upon it, and spoke with assurance that the land would undoubtedly be acquired. The sudden disappcai'anoe from Gore on Sunday, the 9bh, of a young man (who has nob been in good health lately) caused great conoern to his friends. The matter was reported to the police on Tuesday morning (says the Standard), and inquiry was at once made. As it was sale day, a great many farmers were in Gore, and nearly every one was interrogated 'i he had seen a stranger on the roads, but without result. On Mr J. J. Cunningham’s return to his home at Benio, however, he noticed a young man sitting under the fence near his property answering the description, given him of the missing one. Questioned as to ins movements, the young -nan answered in effect that be did not know how he came, there; but ho had passed the previous night in a stable or barn; his memory had evidently failed him. Mr Cunningham thereupon offered to drive him to Gore, an offer that was readily accepted, the -wanderer being restored to his anxious friends. Regarding the report, chat J. J. Meikle lias inherited a fortune of £60,000, the Wellington Free Lance says: —“The story of the fortune is quite romantic. One of Mcikle’s grandfathers went to America a good many years ago and did remarkably well, and recently a relative of Meikte’s in West Virginia died and left behind him £60.000 for some fortunate member of the Meikle family. The upshot has been that J. J. Meikle has received a letter from the clerk of the County Court at Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, calling attention to the aforesaid fortune. Probably it will happen early in the new year that Mr Meikle will cease work as a lumper on the Queen's wharf and sail away to the Golden West to make good for that little load of Virginia dollars.”

A good deal of lime was occupied at the meeting of the City Council on the 12th by a motion of Cr Douglas to rescind the resolution providing for the doubling of the tramway line on Anderson’s Bay road from Princes street to Queen’s drive, at a cost of £4840. Cr Douglas would have preferred to see this money spent in pushing a tram line into hitherto untouched territory. The motion was lost, only the mover voting for it. Another motion by the same councillor, for a committee to be set up to inquire into statements made from time to time concerning the Gasworks, and for the proceedings of this committee to be open to the press, was carried by 11 votes to eight. The committee appointed will consist of the Gas Committee, with the name of Cr Shacklock instead of that of Cr M‘ Pherson, who withdrew from the inquiry as a protest against the motion being carried.

In conversation with a Daily Times reporter oa the 12th, Mr Amos M'Kegg, of Henley—whose name is very familiarly associated with the promotion of the tourist traffic on the Taieri River—mentioned that in the holiday period between Christmas and New Year he had conveyed down the river to view the scenery and for a day’s outing over 1000 holiday-seekers. The majority of these were one-day picnickers, and while pot quite constituting a

best. It is also interesting to notice that this year there has been a very keen demand on the part of campers for cottages to let in all parts of the Lower Taieri River—so keen, indeed, that very frequently over-lapping of parties going and coming has occurred. Mr M'Kegg also informed our reporter that he hoped to have in commission before the end of the present month a fine new vessel, capable of carrying about 200 passengers. Some delay had occurred in the shipment of this boat from New York, but it had now arrived at Wellington, and would shortly be to band. With the arrival of the new boat much greater expedition would, be said, be experienced in the handling of the tourist traffic.

Writing in the Standard of Empire, Dr Chappie, ex-M.P. for Tuapeka, says that, in order to promote the immigration to New Zealand of British lads willing to learn farming in its vario is branches in this country, he has made the following suggestions to the authorities: —(1) That the New Zealand Labour Department be empowered to receive applications from farmers who are willing to take British lads as cadets for a term of two years, providing them with food, clothing, and a nominal progressive wage of, say, from 2s 6d to 10s per week after the first six months’ cadetship; (2) the farmer ’to contribute one-third of the passage-money, the Government onethird, and a British immigration or other society the other one-third; (3) the cadet to be a ward of the Labour Department, and subject to its jurisdiction, direction, and control; (4) the Labour Department to have the power to remove a cadet from one farmer to another, or to return him to his native country for sufficient reason; (5) cadets to bo of the ago from 14 to 19 years; (6) the acceptance of cadets in Britain to be subject to an examination as to health and freedom from criminal taint or defect by an officer of the High Commissioner’s office for New Zealand, and those accepted to be under the protection of a teacher from one of our boyis’ institutions, or other guardian, and to be instructed daily on the voyage out in some branch of agriculture; (7) the engagements to bo made with each individual farmer by the Labour Department, and the department to be responsible for the humane and proper treatment of the boys, and to see that the lor ms of engagement on both sides are fulfilled. , •

Mr D M‘Larch, M.P., at Hastings on the 7th, conferred with local residents on the question of organising a party with a definite political programme, outside the House. Mr M'Laren asserts (says the New Zealand Times) that at present there is no definite programme, and the people are living politically from hand to mouth, so he is touring the country with the object of awakening the- electors to this fact, and to form branches of an organisation which will adopt a .precise and intelligible platform. “This is. my, first session in Parliament,” sa:d Mr M‘Laren, “ and what struck mo as most humorous in the proceedings was the great amount of trouble taken by speakers to define the difference between the Government and the Opposition.” It has been arranged that Mr M'Laren will return to Hastings shortly, when he will deliver addresses on “ The Need for Political Organisation ” and “ The Land Question.”

Captain Colin McDonald, an experienced seaman, who ha>s very frequently navigated the West Coast Sounds, was asked on the 17th whether he considered the Sounds dangerous, inasmuch as they have not been properly surveyed, and what steps he would recommend in the direction of having a satisfactory survey made. The captain said that he had never looked upon the Sounds as any more dangerous than going along the ordinary coastline of New Zealand. In regard to the question of a more up-to-date chart, he suggested that much could be dons by the Admiralty surveying and laying down an approved track or course through Dusky Sound, Wet Jacket. Aim, Doubtful Sound, and Thomson Sound. The cost of this work would not be much, compared with the cost of surveying all the Sounds, and it would enable people to make the trip through this beautiful scenery without uneasy thoughts of uncharted rocks and evils of the kind. “ I have the feeling myself,” he said, “ that most of these places arc perfectly free from such dangers—but Dusky Sound shows f lons as if it wore broken up at the entrance, though farther up it shows bold headlands.” ,

A Wellington telegram states that in a fortnight the Government training- ship Ainokura will visit the depots for castaways at the Snares, Auckland®, Campbell. Antipodes, and Bounty Islands. This work has hitherto, been carried out by the Government steamer Hinemoa.

The outside 'insurances on the Waikare, which was ! wrecked at Dusky Sound last week, tola! £15.000. The risk is scattered over a large number of companies, but a

substantial' policy (something over £6000) is held by Lloyd’s. A rough estimate placed the value of the vessel at £40,000.

The Hon. T Mackenzie, who has been Honorary Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, and in charge of the Tourist Department for some 12 months, has now been appointed Minister of the same departments on full salary/ The appointment dates from January I. The hon. gentleman has received many congratulations on his elevation to full Cabinet rank.

at a meeting of the Auckland Kindergarten Association on the 12th a letter was received from Sir John Logan Campbell offering to build a school for kindergarten purposes and donate it to the association conditionally upon the school being a free one. The offer was accepted.

Despatches from Cleveland, Ohio, at the end of November reported an extraordinary affair which occurred at the home of Mr John D. Rockefeller. A ‘gentleman of Dutch nationality called at the house, asking to see the millionaire, and giving the name of Count de Cries. Inquiries elicited the information that he was desirous of placing before Mr Rockefeller a scheme for the draining of the Zuyder Zee, in connection with which he wished to obtain financial assistance. When he was refused an interview, the visitor declared that he did not intend to leave unlil he had seen Mr Rockefeller, and attempted to force his way in. Fearing that the man intended some mischief, one of the guards who are now always posted around the residence promptly fired at him, but missed. By this time, however, several members of the household staff had been attracted to the spot, and the man was, after a struggle, thrown out of the grounds. The incident may perhaps be looked upon as a striking illustration of the precautions which have for some time past been taken with a view to frustrating any attempt on Mr Rockefeller’s life.

A recent visitor to Mexico writes: “ While the Constitution of Mexico forbids slavery, the Constitution • is a dead letter. The masters do not publicly call their chattels slaves, referring to them as ‘ people ’ or ‘labourers.’ They have a market value, are bought and sold, are kept in {perpetual bondage, are punished, and killed at the pleasure of their owners. One of the first sights we saw on a plantation was tire beating of a slave—a formal beating before the assembled toilers of the •ranch, early in the morning, just after the daily roll-call. The slave was taken on tlr? back of a huge Chinaman and given 15 lashes, so lustily delivered that the blood ran down the victim’s Body. Women are required to kneel to Be beaten, as sometimes are men of great weight. Men and women arc beaten in the fields, as well as at the morning roll call. Each foreman, or capataz, carries a heavy cane, with which he punches and prods and whacks the slaves at will. I do not remember visiting a single field in which I did not see some of this punching and prodding and whacking- going on.”

A blight similar to what has been, reported to have attacked the Californian thistle in the Taieri has made its appearance in parts of Tokomairiro. The leaves of the plant after being attacked seem to shrivel up and wither, leaving the main stalk standing.

The. additions to the power-house at Waipori are nearing completion, and very shortly the hydro-clectrio duplicate plant, all of which has arrived and is in store, will be conveyed to the station and installed. The duplicate plant will, it is anticipated, be in running at the end of March or early in April. The installation will then be capable of generating electricity to the extent of 4000 horse-power.

During the quarter ended December 31 there were 13 fresh bankruptcies in the Otago and Southland district, which with 66 bankruptcies unclosed at the end of the preceding year made a total of 79 at the end of the quarter. The assets realised during ing the three months amounted to £BB6 19s sd, and the dividends paid to £1330 9s lid. During the preceding quarter there were 15 new bankruptcies, the assets realised amounting to £2148 7s lid, and the dividends paid to £2114 19s sd.

Our Auckland correspondent reports a, singular accident which occurred on the 13th bust. As a lady was wheeling a baby in a perambulator up Queen street she received a shock, when passing a fancy : goods sftop at the corner of Durham street, to see the form of a man come hurling through the skylight and fall to the footpath with a heavy thud, just grazing the pram in his flight. Mr George Walker, the auctioneer, who has many people passing at the time, and the offices upstairs, had gone out on to the roof of the verandah to shift a signboard, and inadvertently stepped on to the glass of the skylight, which, being painted tho same' colour as the nest of the roof, is hard fo distinguish. There were a good cra.-h of glass and the falling form eoon caused a crowd to collect. Mr Walker, who made light of the mishap, was, hov.'ever, found to be pretty badly injured, and after being attended to was removed to his home in the ambulance.

The Alexandra Herald al leg’s s that much dissatisfaction exists in connection with the train service on the Otago Central railway, particularly with regard to the stoppages occasioned at the respective stations along the line. On different occasions passengers have timed the stoppages from Clyde to Dunedin, when it has been ascertained that the total length of stoppages en routs lias amounted to over three hours, and in some instances three hours and a-half have been set down as the. actual stopping time. A well-known resident of Alexandra, travelling recently to Dunedin, took the times of stoppages at ' each station between Alexandra and Dunedin, with the result that his calculations amounted to two hours 49 minutes. This time does not include the stoppages made, to take water. The usual stoppage

be seen that the time lost through stoppages amounts to over three hours. The journey from Clyde to Dunedin is set down at nine houi's and a-half, and the fallacy of the service is readily recognised when it is ascertained that three hours are lost through stoppages at the stations en route.

A gentleman who was fishing in the Waimakariri relates a somewhat extraordinary incident which came under his notice. A young fox terrier dog he had with him discovered a nest of Californian quail. There were several young ones and the two parent birds. On going up to them he expected that the parents would take wing and fly away. He was surprised to see that both of them were standing up to the dog, and were making a valiant fight in defence of their home and family. Not content with coming out to meet the dog, they offered fight to the other intruder, threatening him with all kinds of penalties in the way of pecks from a, pair of sharp bills. The dog was called off, and the courageous little birds were left in possession of their treasures.

A novel fishing equipment is now being used by Northern Wairoa campers on the West Coast (says the Auckland Herald), by means of which splendid hauls of deep-sea fish are being obtained. It has been patented by Mr A. Costello, of Dargaville. The line is 1200 ft, long, and its mode of working is by driving a Sin peg into the beach at high water to a depth of 3ft. Then, at a distance of 500 ft seawards two smaller pegs are affixed at an interval of some 30ft. A pulley is affixed to each peg, through which the endless lino is woven. On two portions of the line 12 io 15 hooks are baited, and one of these is always in deep water, as on the line being hauled in the oilier baited attachments arc mechanically carried out to the other seaward peg. On open roadsteads, where the magnitude of the waves and the breadth of stormy billows prevent a single line being oast into deep mater, the innovation is of distinct value, and its use is becoming general on the northern coast.

Commissioner Ifay, of the Salvation Army, intends inaugurating throughout the whole of the Australian States and New Zealand a systematic crusade against drink, gambling, and smoking in any shape or form. The work will bo placed in the bands of the young people in the Salvation Army, to whom special inducements will be offered to conduct an energetic campaign. Over 25,000 pledge-cards have been printed and forwarded to the different Salvation Army centres, where they will be distributed amongst the “ corps.” Later it is proposed to supplement this action by the. institution of anti smoking, drinking, ant! gambling leagues on lines already being successfully worked throughout the United States and England, where distinctive badges are considered an essential rule of membership. At present the Salvation Army authorities are busy arranging transfers of “field officers” over 400 of whom will change stations during the next few' weeks.

The Wellington wharves are acquiring bo me notoriety for strange incidents (says tho New Zealand Times), and the latest happening is puzzling - the authorities not a little. On Saturday, Bth hist., a quartercask of whisky was seen floating under the Queen's wharf and was duly hauled out. of the water. The bond marks were noted, and one of the Harbour Board officials set out on the scent to find where it came from. He discovered that it had been delivered to the premises of Pearson and Co., wine and spirit merchants, Custom-house quay. Tho manager recognised tho marks, but said the cask was snugly stowed in the store. To his surprise, however, a search discovered tho fact that the whisky was missing. It transpired that during Friday morning the cask had been placed near the open door of tho store. How the whisky was taken away, weighing as it does about 2501 b, and by what means it found its way back to the wharf and into the harbour, is a problem not yet solved. The liquor is valued at about £4O. It is facetiously suggested that there is double wharfage to pay on the stolen cask.

The well-known firm of Bickfords has opened up a new branch of the fruit trade between South Africa and the United Kingdom which should lead to important results. The firm undertakes to simply, in 12 weekly shipments from the Cape to the consumer’s door between the end of December and April, cases of apricots, peaches, plums, nectarines, pears, and grapes at 13s per box, or £7 4s for the 12 shipments. The fruit will be selected, and will have been passed and branded by the Cape Government.

Dr Neeley, president o£ the Canterbury Automobile Association, and Mr E. E. Stark, Dunedin city electrical engineer, m ado «.n interesting motor-car trip last week. They left Hokitika in Mr Stark’s 14-16 horse-power motor car at. 10 a.m. on Saturday, and reached the Otira Station, on the road to Christchurch, at 1 p.m. They spent the afternoon and evening with Mr M'Loan at tbs tunnel works, and left again at 6 a.m. on Sandlay. The car behaved splendidly coming' up the big hill of the Otira Gorge. Dr Neeley and Mr Stark walked up the pass, a.nd Mr Stark’s son drove the car, which carried the luggage. Christchurch was reached at 5 p.m. on Sunday. They report that the road from the Bealey, by way of Porter’s Pass, i.s somewhat neglected; it is not very bad, however, and is quit© passable. There was only

wnere mere are quantities ox loose meiai, into which the wheels of the car sank. Lord Cross, who, still carrying lightly his burden of 86 years, walked through the division lobby in the House of Lords in aid of the enterprise of throwing out the Budget Bill, retains the proud position of being Britain’s oldest, most highlyendowed public pensioner. In 1887 he claimed and was granted a first class pension under the act of 1869, and with intervals when he tv as drawing from the Treasury an equivalent or larger sum by ■way of salary, he has enjoyed his quarterly subsidy of £SOO. As under the statute it is necessary for one claiming ■the bounty to make the statement that he would be otherwise financially unable to maintain the social position of an exMinister, some surprise was expressed at the time that Lord Cross appeared in the list. But the claim was not publicly disputed, and he ranks to-day as the champion old-age pensioner.

The Commissioner 1 of Police in Queensland has received information that Jack M'Loughlin, a notorious criminal, who was arrested in Brisbane on a charge of murder in Johannesburg iix 1895, has been sentenced to death. ATLoughiin fought the extradition proceedings in Brisbane, but was sent back to Johannesburg on the last trip of the missing liner Waratah. He, with the escorting police officer, landed at Durban.

Messrs Turnbull and Jones (Limited) have obtained the contract for the electrical power plant to be installed at the Golden Bay Cement Works at Terakohe, between Cape Palliser and Nelson. The contract amounts to about £15,000. This will be the first cement works in the Dominion to install its own private c electrical plant for driving the cement-making machinery. Messrs Turnbull and Jones were the contractors to the Milburn Lime t and Cement Company, Dunedin, for the electrical equipment, which derives its : power from the Dunedin City Corporation supply.

; »Mr Hugo Gorlitz, the travelling repre'senbativo of Dr Charles Harms, for his forthcoming festivals of the British Empire; arrived in Dunedin last night after a most. successful tour through the North Island in connection with Dr. Harriss’s great scheme. Mr Gorlitz states that he has , made a preliminary canvass of the .towns in which, owing to limited accomn?odation, no festival can take place, and met with the most enthusiastic response from leading musicians and business men, who are prepared to form committees and send large contingents to the centres where the festivals are to be held.

Upwards of 10 million ballot papers will bo distributed amongst the six or seven thousand polling places in the Commonwealth for the next Federal elections. There are about 2,300,000 men r arid women electors in Australia, and each voter will receive four ballot, papers—ohe for the Senate, on© for the Representatives, and one for each referendum. Declaration and other forms for electors who may be voting at the polling places for- which they are not enrolled will increase to 15 million the total number of printed documents used in the conduct of the elections. From 12,000 to 15,000 officials will be employed. At each of the six or seven thousand polling places copies of the proposed laws for the alteration of the Constitution on which the rojerendums are to be taken . will bo exhibited.

A citizen of a Melbourne suburb received a few clays ago a post-card which had been posted to him just upon 21 years (ago. The card was from a person bearing jhe not inappropriate name, “A. Gamble,” of Buln Buln, a Victorian country town, and it conveyed an order for a case of kerosene—same brand as the last.” It iwas fully addressed in a legible hand. The card bears Buln Buln postmark of ■March 26, 1889. It apparently reached Melbourne the next day, as it bears the Melbourne stamp of that day. What happened during the next 21 years is a mystery.

;A Pro's Association message from Invercargill states that the first party to traverse the new track from Wakatipu to Te Anau Bet out on Friday from Elfin Bay. The •hew route affords a splendid view of the cold lakes, and avoids the high country 7. The trip can now bo done in four day 7 s. When, recently 7 on a visit to .England and America Mr Snowball, manager of the Dunedin Municipal Abattoirs, went closely into the methods iti txhionco at killing establishments in both . countries in regard to tho disposal of the effluent, (seine very important information on tins point and on other matters pertaining to abattoirs has been gathered, and. will, w« understand, form the subject of a report to the General Committee df the City Council at its next meeting.

In recognition of their services the management ...of . the Union Steam Ship Company has sent letters of appreciation to Captain Newton, officers, and members of the crew of the M'aikare. Miss Ga-sh and Miss Fitzpatrick, the two stewardesses specially referred to by Sir Joseph Ward, have been promoted. Miss Gash, of Port Chalmers, has been promoted to a larger steamer, and Miss Fitzpatrick, of Dunedin, has been appointed full stewardess instead of assistant. Mr Appleyard, the second officer, has been appointed first officer, and monetary grants have been made to the members of the crew who accompanied him on his hazardous expedition to Puysegur Point lighthouse to send the news of the wreck. Captain Newton left for

ana to a Wcii l orders. The Post last week comments (says our Wellington correspondent) on the continued silence in regard to the trouble in the Income Tax Department. “ The lengthening period of silence,” it says, “ is fair to nobody. Justice to Mr lie yes and duty to the pujjlic place the Government under an obligation to clear up tho mystery without undue delay. Tho postponement of the promised action must inevitably tend to create a feeling ef uneasiness, and it may be putting the commissioner in an unfair position. The effect, too, is to place the Income Tax Department as a whole at a disadvantage. Obviously when anything occurs to put a very important public department in the position now occupied by the Income Tax Department, the Government should mako all reasonable haste to let the public know the truth. The truth will out eventually, but much unnecessary trouble may bo avoided if tiie process is expedited.”

A congregational meeting of the Mount Ida Presbyterian Church was held in Naseby Church on the evening of the lOthi inst. The meeting was well attended, representatives from Ranfurly and Gimmcrburn being present. The Rev. Mr Watson, of Alexandra, the Moderator of the charge, presided. The matter of the minister’s salary, was taken up. A proposal was made to reduce the salary, but it was carried by a substantial majority that the salary remain as before —viz., £270, which was the sum fixed. A Selection Committee was then formed, and Mr 11. Wilson, session) clerk, was appointed clerk and convener. The proceeding's throughout the meeting were animated by a fine spirit, and a happy and acceptable appointment of » minister to the Mount Ida charge at no distant date is anticipated.

in rebuttal of the charge of extravagance made against the Government ia fitting up railway carriages lor the use of the Governor and suite on the forthcoming tour in the North Island, the New Zealand Times says the facts are that the elaborate preparations ’’ wilt cost £-15. They consist of temporarily removing the seats from two second class carriages in order that the cars can accommodate stretchers, to sleep upon. The floor space down the centre of each • carriage i-s being covered by a strip of inexpensive carpet. If the arrangements could be conducted more, ‘ economically” than this it would be interesting to know what form they would take. When the cars are used by the Governor they will be attached to ordinary goods or mixed trains, and detached at sidings on -route in the way common to timber waggons.”

The increase of late years in the ratio of working expenses to gross earnings in regard to the New Zealand -■ railways in as recently emphasised in a returir compiled by the Australasian Insurance and Banking Record. Referring to they,return in question, the Hon. J. A. Millar, hi blister of Railways, remarked to a . Dotninion reporter that it was quite true 'that the working expenses rose last year to 72.19 per cent. That was to bo explained (he continued), firstly, by the fact that under the last classification the wages had increased, by £147,000; and, secondly, that coal sufficient for four months was purchased instead of,the usual stock of eight weeks, in view of the possibility of a strike. Mr Millar went on to say that this year it would be found that the working expenses would be very much lo%\ei, and that the earnings of the railways world he much higher. If New Zealand liked to charge the same rates for passengers and freights as were charged in Australia a return of nearly 5 per cent, could bo secured on the present turnover. Ho was having compiled a comparative statement giving the passenger rates and freight charges in New Zealand, boutn Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and West Australia, and io would forecast that it would be found that except in the case of a few odds and ends here and there the rates were much higher in Australia than in New Zealand.

4 la civ who was the plaintiff in a case caused "a scene in the Port Chalmers Magistrate’s Court on Friday. The defendant having pleaded his inability to p~y, the magistrate dismissed the but the applicant would not hear of ib ■*- e stalled a voluble prosecution on her own account, and was still talking when the magistrate left the bench. Finding that her audience had broken up. the lady made "a rush at the luckless debtor, but collided with a policeman,, who thoughtfully stopped between.

As evidence of the hidden dangers of sunken rocks in ill© Sounds, a gentleman, now resident in Westport relates that an obstruction in the fairway of George Sound, now charted as “ Sinclair Rock,” was discovered in an aec dental. manner. Some years ago the Westport gentleman and Captain Sinclair were- fishing in the sound from a boat. At one side of the boat the Westport man, with two long lengths of fishing line, could not. get bottom, while on the opposite side of the boat Captain Sinclair’s line bottomed at 18ft. Careful sounding' proved th© presence of a previously unsuspected pinnacle rock.

Two young men had a remarkable escape from death by lightning during a storm at Orange (New South Wales) recently. ’While -shooting near Rosehill they were overtaken by the storm, and sought refuge under a tree. On© of the young fellows, named Uren, was -struck by something ont the hack of the 1 lead—probably the lightning—which d.ri Had a. small hole

i through the lower part of the crown. He | knew nothing of the occurrence, having s fallen unconscious. His companion, a Sydi- { ney visitor, named Sullivan, saw the flash, j and sank to the ground paralysed in the , lower extremities. He partly recovered, | and dragged himself to a rabbi tors’ camp, , •where he obtained assistance to resuscitate XJren. His injuries consisted of the scorching of the outer part of the left fcrearm, j the perforation of the soles of the

feet in many places by the current. Strangely enough, his clothes and boots were quite undamaged. Both men have now recovered from the shock, but their wounds are painful. Our Pembroke correspondent informs ua that an epidemic somewhat similar to that existing ca Mount Pisa Station some two years ago, has attacked some of the residents on both Minaret and Mount Albert Stations. Dr Morris, cf Cromwell, and

visited the sufferers. Each doctor has had to do practically 100 miles’ travelling to get to the patients, and the hire of horses, beats, etc., is a costly business for the backblock sufferers. The weather, fortunately, is magnificent. There arc at present 147 patients in the Hospital. .There were. 130 at the beginning of last week, during which 42 were admitted and 25 were discharged. At Friday’s meeting of the Tuapcka County Council (reports the _ Tua.peka Times), Mr K. Cotton, who was introduced by Or Knight, said he wished to draw tho council's attention to the threatened monopolisation by the Dunedin City Council of the timber at Waipori Falls to the detriment of the mining industry at Waipori. The position was that the Dunedin Corporation was applying for 300 acres at the upper end of the bush, and it had already objected to the settlors cutting even so much as a manuka rail. He personally had no objection to the Dunedin Corporation getting - a right to the sawing timber, but he maintained that the settlers and miners’ right to the lighter timber such as manuka for mining and fencing purposes should bo. preserved, and particularly so as the county had spent large sums of money in forming roads into tho bush for the benefit of the district as a whole. The application was coming before the warden on Tuesday, and ho thought the council should oppose it. Cr Knight pointed out how accessary it was that the manuka timber should be available for the mining industry, and especially in connection with the quartz reefing, and moved that the council write to the Land Board asking it to defer consideration of the Dunedin City Councils application till the county officers had nad an opportunity of ascertaining wnether the area included any of the county roads or bridges or mining timber, and also that a formal objection bo lodged in the Warden’s Court. Cr Bennetts seconded the motion, which was carried. In connection with the raid on Chinese premises in Kaining street, Wellington, on Friday night (says a Press Association telegram) several Europeans were charged with being found in a common gaming house, and were fined £2 each, in default seven days’ imprisonment. The charges against tbs Chinese were adjourned till Thursday next. The necessity for a Larger steamer on Lake Wakatipu, which is frequently shown at this time of the year, was demonstrated in a marked: degree on Monday last (says tho Wakatipu Mail) when the s.s. Ben Lomond was literally packed from stem to stern with passengers for Kingston. Tho lake was somewhat rough that morning, and consequently there was much uneasiness in the minds of many as to the safety of the passengers. These fears were not ungrounded, for the steamer was certainly carrying more than, she is licensed to. Hexlicense entitles bar to carry 130, whereas she had fully 40 over this number. Fortunately, there was no mishap, but many of the passengers got a thorough drenching. The circumstances narrated above aro only a repetition of what is taking place, yet the new steamer seems as far off as over. It seems that nothing short of a calamity will arouse the Government from its persistent heedlessness, Mr T. Buxton, member for Geraldine, is the authority for the statement that six or seven persons in tho Temuka district have formed themselves into an association! under the Land Settlement Fina noe Act, passed last session, and intend io seek the assistance of the Government in obtaining a block of about 575 acres, within two miles of the town. Their application for Government assistance will ho posted’ today, and it is possible that they will ho the fiist to take advantage of the act. Our Wellington correspondent says that the Union Company was desirous of making a presentation of a gold watch to Captain Bl unt, of tho Pioneer, for his promptness in getting the Waikare’s (passengers off Stop Island, whilo the wardroom was io bs honoured by the presentation of tho piano and soma of the plate saved from the wreck, but it was found that the Admiralty regulations prevented it. It is reported that a flaw has been discovered in tho Slaughtering and Inspection Act. Under one clause of • the act a farmer is allowed to kill on. his farm and dress as many as five pigs in one week, for his own consumption or for sale, without being subject to inspection. A few days ago one of these “ farmers’ pigs, ’ as they aro called, was delivered in. Christchurch (says the Lyttelton, Times), and, it is stated, on being examined by, an officer of the veterinary division of the Agricultural Department, was found to lie affected with tuberculosis. If the animal had been killed at any of the recognised slaughtering establishments it would not. hare passed the examination, and there would have been no risk of its going into consumption. It is suggested that the law should be altered so that, whilo farmers’ privileges in this respect are not interfered with, further safeguards might bo provided for tho public. Cabinet yesterday (says a Wellington message) authorised votes of £28,950 for railways and £1456 for roads. The case of the man Biggs who ‘ shot himself at Rotorua on Christmas Day promises to be one of note from a medical point of view (says the Rotorua Times), as it goes to upset scientific theories. The unfortunate man as ho recovers can do nearly everything that it was thought he would be unable to do. He can recollect, balance himself, and walk; and these are scientifically the vary operations supposed to have been controlled by that portion of the brain which in his case has been

steaony, ana the case promises to be one of tho most re-markable in the annals of medical science. A correspondent, writing to the Ashburton Guardian upon the subject of (profitsharing - as an “ industrial solution,” says: “In my own . small wa/, on my farm, t hare tried profit-sharing, and I know it pays. One concern of which I am a. director pays bonuses each year to a large number. My vote would always be for el tending it to the office boy and tho charwoman-every one to participate. The profit-sharing idea is spreading in England and the United stales. It is right, and it will spread, though slowly- ft pays ihe employer, for he gets enthusiastic support. It is fair that; ihoae who work should iiave some of the qpoii. A share in the profits makes work lees of a drudgery, and more of a pleasure. Tho plan will, when widely established, lessen strikes. It will allay something of the bitterness between employ'd' and employed, and it is a reform that must come. It has everything in its favour, and no real argument against it; but old-fashioned ideas and prejudices take a lot of fighting before they aro beaten.” A London message states that the Seddon memorial (panel by Sir George I ran ip ton is being oast in bronze, and will be placed in St. Paul’s crypt, adjoining Sir George Grey’s bust. Inspector Wyllio reported to the- Southland Education Board on Friday that in answer to questions on climate he often found that examples close at hand were neglected, while those in distant parts (Moscow, Edinburgh, and Labrador) were largely' quoted. This, lie said, might be obviated if some dozen teachers in different parts of the district volunteered to supply simple meterological returns monthly to the office in specially marked and stamped envelopes. Those returns could bo summarised at the end of the year and the results, furnishing excellent local illustrations of the laws of climate, supplied to every school in the district. The same end could be obtained by reprinting from the journal of tho Meteorological Office of tho Dominion such data as had a bearing on tho climate of Southland, or New Zealand as a whole. Tho obvious difficulty of the first plan lay in the fact that arrangements would have to be made for recording observations on every day of the year (Saturdays, Sundays, and school hobdays inclusive), but even that difficulty might bo surmounted. The recommendation was referred to the Executive Committee. The following is Mr Henry Skey’s abstract of weather observations at Dunedin for December: —Mean barometer, 29.767 in; mean elastic force of vapour, 0.358 m; mean temperature in shade, 60deg.: mean solar radiation, 121; mean terrestrial radiation, 48.3; mean daily velocity of wind, 184 miles; mean amount of cloud (from 1 to 10), 5.4; total rainfall, 1.95 in; number of days on which rain fell 4. The ease of a patient who, in spite of repeated applications, still remained in the Hospital instead of having been removed to Rock and Pillar Sanatorium, came before the Hospital Trustees on Monday night. The reason given was—“no room.” Tho chairman (Mr S. Solomon) said there were 147 patients now in the Hospital, which was crowded. Here was a. patient, to whom they could do no good, occupying a bed which might accommodate some poor person who might benefit by Hospital treatment. Mr J. H. Walker said that at present all the available beds were in use at the Sanatorium, but that shortly arrangements would be completed enabling many more patients to be accommodated. A scene of deplorable vandalism is revealed by a visit to the well-known landmark of the Palmerston district—the MTvenzie Cairn on Pukeivvitabi. It seems a most unfortunate thing that the thought most permanently uppermost in many people’s minds on visiting some particular scenic spot or place of interest is to leave behind them a memorial of their visit in the Hi ape, generally, of their names. In the case of the M‘K©nzie Cairn this tendency has revealed itself in the carving upon the stone of innumerable names, the cruel vandalism of this being shown by the fact that many of them are carved i no re boldly and prominently than even the name of the honoured legislator in whoso honour the cairn was erected. The sight of these names, which literally cover the stone now, arouses in all thinkingvisitors to tho spot feelings of the greatest indignation, and it is a shame that no reverence should bo shown to the stone and the person whose memory it. (perpetuates. In speaking to a Daily Times reporter on Saturday in connection with this matter a well-known solicitor in the district suggested it would be a fitting punishment for the various vandals, if a photograph of the stone were to be published. This, he said, would show the degree to which the senseless and unthinking practice had been carried. It will fie a matter of interest fo tho public who patronise the tourist resorts of the province, and to others as well, to learn that somethiag practical is at last be ing. done in the direction of providing a new steamer for the Lake Wakatipu service. Mr 11. M‘Rae, naval architect, Dunedin, is at the present, time, at the instance of the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister of Marine, preparing plans and specifications, with a view to the calling of tenders in New Zealand, for a new steamer for Lake Wakatipu. It is anticipated that

month’s time, and when they have been forwarded to Wellington, tenders will be called for the construction of a steamer within Now Zealand, and if the prices received compere favourably with those received from outside of tho Dominion, it ~,'av Ikj anticipated that an order for the construction of tbs steamer will at once be placed within the Dominion. The plans which Mr M‘Kae is preparing- provide for a noddle steamer of about 250 tons, and capable of carrying from 800 to 1000 passengers and 40 tons of cargo. She will be aldo to travel at the -ate of 16 miles an .hour, and will be 160 ft long, with two decks, ami dining and deck saloons. Her draught will be sft- Sin, which will permit of her going right r,n to tho head of the lake .and "into fairly shallow parts, while the fact of her being a paddle steamer will greatly reduce the tendency to roll. All over, she will be very much larger than ibc boat at present- in commission, and will bo from four to five miles an hour faster. At last weeks’ meeting of tho Southland Education Board Inspector Hendry reported that 613 candidates from public schools had presented themselves for examination for proficiency certificates, with the result that 367. or 60 per cent., had gained (proficiency ; 87, or 14 per cent., gained competency, and 159, or 26 per cent., had failed. From Catholic schools there were 47 candidates; 22, or 47 per cent., gained proficiency certificates; eight, or 17 per cent., gained compete nev ; and 17. or 36 per cent., failed. Messrs E. Hardcastle and R. Hay, representing the Canterbury doors talkers, waited on the lion. Mr Buddo on Saturday last with reference to the proposal that was recently put before the Government to have tho North Otago red dear herd placed in the hands of a special board of management. Mr Buddo pointed out that in order to carry out this proposal an amendment of the Animals Protection Act .yould he required, as under it the societies interested could claim tho revenue from deerstalking licenses. Mr Hard castle suggested, as a compromise upon, the. original proposal, that tho herd should be placed under tho control of tho Otago Acclimatisation Society, that tho revenue from deerstalking licenses should to devoted solely to the maintenance and improvoraeat of the hero., that deerstalkers’ licenses' should entitle the holders to membership of the society, and that an advisory committee of deerstalkers should be appointed by the society, to whom all matters relating to the deer should be referred for their consideration and recommendation. The Minister replied that this was a practical suggestion, and promised to place the representations made before tho -societies interested. ft was mentioned to Mr Buddo that the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society was desirous of obtaining a permit, to issue a number of licenses to shoot stags in tho Rakaia herd this coming season, and as there were a number of stalkers who were anxious to make their arrangements to go ; either to the Rakaia or North Otago, it i was necessary that tho matter should, bo : arranged as soon as possible. Tho Minister promised that tho matter would receive attention this week. Ik is seldom that Coalopolia is as short of coal as it is to-day (says the Greymcuth Star of the 11th inst.), but the fact remains that there is great difficulty in obtaining any supplies. Since the holidays ended work has gone on very slowly at the mines, with the result that the output has been very limited, and, unices an in'firoveinent i is effected, it will take some time to over- ; take the demands that are made. Even the steamers are blocked for want of bunker coal, and several dredges up country are prevented from resuming work owing to tho lack of fuel. Of course it is only a matter of a few days before things will lie in regular working order again, but tho present shortage is causing considerable inconvenience in several ways.